Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: identifying, from a printed circuit board design, a plurality of components for placing within a layout of the printed circuit board design; grouping the plurality of components into at least a first component group and a second component group, wherein the first component group includes a first subset of the plurality of components and the second component group includes a second subset of the plurality of components; identifying a first footprint for the first component group within the layout, wherein a location of each component in the first subset is unassigned within the first footprint; identifying a second footprint for the second component group within the layout, wherein a location of each component in the second subset is unassigned within the second footprint; determining, by one or more computing devices, that the first footprints conflicts with the second footprint within the layout; and adjusting, by the one or more computer devices, the first footprint or the second footprint to resolve the conflict.
A method for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) involves identifying components, grouping them into a first and second component group, and assigning a footprint (an area where components can be placed) for each group. The location of individual components within each group's footprint is initially unassigned. The method then determines if the two footprints conflict within the PCB layout. If a conflict exists, the method adjusts either the first or second footprint to resolve the conflict. This adjustment is performed by a computer.
2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes moving the first footprint to a different location in the layout such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by moving the first component group's footprint to a different location on the PCB layout. This relocation ensures that the first footprint no longer overlaps or interferes with the second footprint's location.
3. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting moving the second footprint to a different location in the layout such that the second footprint no longer conflicts with the first footprint within the layout.
The method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by moving the second component group's footprint to a different location on the PCB layout. This relocation ensures that the second footprint no longer overlaps or interferes with the first footprint's location.
4. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting an aspect ratio of the first footprint such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by changing the aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height) of the first component group's footprint. This adjustment reshapes the footprint so that it no longer overlaps or interferes with the second footprint's location.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting an aspect ratio of the second footprint such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by changing the aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height) of the second component group's footprint. This adjustment reshapes the footprint so that it no longer overlaps or interferes with the first footprint's location.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first footprint and the second footprint have different geometric areas.
In the method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, the first and second component group footprints have different sizes (geometric areas). This acknowledges that component groups can require varying amounts of space on the PCB layout.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting a length or width of the first footprint such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by changing either the length or the width of the first component group's footprint. This resizing of the footprint ensures that it no longer overlaps or interferes with the second footprint's location.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting a shape of the first footprint such that a geographic area of the first footprint is unchanged and the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by altering the shape of the first component group's footprint, while keeping the footprint's area the same. This means morphing the footprint (e.g. from a square to a rectangle) so it no longer conflicts with the second, without changing the total available space.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an outer boundary of the first footprint defines a triangle or trapezoid.
In the method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, the outer boundary of the first component group's footprint can be a triangle or a trapezoid. This specifies that the footprint is not limited to rectangular shapes.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: identifying a target number of components to place in the layout; identifying one or more additional footprints for the first component group within the layout, wherein the first footprint, the second footprint and the one or more additional footprints together include the target number of components; and determining that the one or more additional footprints conflict with the first footprint or the second footprint.
The method for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, also includes specifying a target number of components to place on the layout. It then identifies additional footprints for the first component group, such that the original first footprint, the second footprint, and these new footprints, in total, account for the target number of components. The method also checks if these additional footprints conflict with the original first or second footprints.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining is performed while the location of each component in the first subset is unassigned within the first footprint and while the location of each component in the second subset is unassigned within the second footprint.
In the method for designing PCBs where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, the step of determining if a conflict exists between footprints is performed while the specific locations of the components within each footprint are still undefined. This ensures conflict resolution is done at a higher, group level before detailed component placement.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting is performed while the location of each component in the first subset is unassigned within the first footprint and while the location of each component in the second subset is unassigned within the second footprint.
In the method for designing PCBs where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, the adjustment of footprints to resolve a conflict is performed before assigning specific locations to components inside those footprints. This allows for flexible footprint adjustment without needing to re-place individual components.
13. One or more computer-readable storage devices storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to: identify, from a printed circuit board design, a plurality of components for placing within a layout of the printed circuit board design; group the plurality of components into at least a first component group and a second component group, wherein the first component group includes a first subset of the plurality of components and the second component group includes a second subset of the plurality of components; identify a first footprint for the first component group within the layout, wherein in a location of each component in the first subset is unassigned within the first footprint; identify a second footprint for the second component group within the layout, wherein a location of each component in the second subset is unassigned within the second footprint; determine that the first footprint conflicts with the second footprint within the layout; and adjust the first footprint or the second footprint to resolve the conflict.
A computer-readable storage device contains instructions for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs). The instructions cause a computer to: identify components; group them into a first and second component group; assign a footprint (an area where components can be placed) for each group. The location of individual components within each group's footprint is initially unassigned. The computer determines if the two footprints conflict within the PCB layout. If a conflict exists, the computer adjusts either the first or second footprint to resolve the conflict.
14. The one or more computer-readable storage devices recited in claim 13 , wherein causing the apparatus to adjust includes causing the apparatus to move the first footprint to a different location in the layout such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The computer-readable storage device for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by moving the first component group's footprint to a different location on the PCB layout. This relocation ensures that the first footprint no longer overlaps or interferes with the second footprint's location.
15. The one or more computer-readable storage devices recited in claim 13 , wherein causing the apparatus to adjust includes causing the apparatus to move the second footprint to a different location in the layout such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The computer-readable storage device for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by moving the second component group's footprint to a different location on the PCB layout. This relocation ensures that the second footprint no longer overlaps or interferes with the first footprint's location.
16. The one or more computer-readable storage devices recited in claim 13 , wherein causing the apparatus to adjust includes causing the apparatus to adjust an aspect ratio of the first footprint such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The computer-readable storage device for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by changing the aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height) of the first component group's footprint. This adjustment reshapes the footprint so that it no longer overlaps or interferes with the second footprint's location.
17. An apparatus, comprising: one or more processors; memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to: identify, from a printed circuit board design, a plurality of components for placing within a layout of the printed circuit board design; group the plurality of components into at least a first component group and a second component group, wherein the first component group includes a first subset of the plurality of components and the second component group includes a second subset of the plurality of components; identify a first footprint for the first component group within the layout, wherein a location of each component in the first subset is unassigned within the first footprint; identify a second footprint for the second component group within the layout, wherein a location of each component in the second subset is unassigned within the second footprint; determine that the first footprint conflicts with the second footprint within the layout; and adjust the first footprint or the second footprint to resolve the conflict.
An apparatus (a computer system) for designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) includes one or more processors and memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to: identify components; group them into a first and second component group; assign a footprint (an area where components can be placed) for each group. The location of individual components within each group's footprint is initially unassigned. The apparatus determines if the two footprints conflict within the PCB layout. If a conflict exists, the apparatus adjusts either the first or second footprint to resolve the conflict.
18. The apparatus recited in claim 17 , wherein causing the apparatus to adjust includes causing the apparatus to move the first footprint to a different location in the layout such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The apparatus (computer system) for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by moving the first component group's footprint to a different location on the PCB layout. This relocation ensures that the first footprint no longer overlaps or interferes with the second footprint's location.
19. The apparatus recited in claim 17 , wherein causing the apparatus to adjust includes causing the apparatus to move the second footprint to a different location in the layout such that the first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The apparatus (computer system) for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by moving the second component group's footprint to a different location on the PCB layout. This relocation ensures that the second footprint no longer overlaps or interferes with the first footprint's location.
20. The apparatus recited in claim 17 , wherein causing the apparatus to adjust includes causing the apparatus to adjust an aspect ratio of the first footprint such that first footprint no longer conflicts with the second footprint within the layout.
The apparatus (computer system) for designing PCBs, as described where components are grouped and their footprints adjusted for conflict resolution, resolves the footprint conflict by changing the aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height) of the first component group's footprint. This adjustment reshapes the footprint so that it no longer overlaps or interferes with the second footprint's location.
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September 16, 2014
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